Courtney McHenry: Leading a Program of Excellence | Varsity Vibe

When you think of the Taylor Tigers, softball is one of the things that comes to mind. They just know how to win. In 2026 they won their 9th straight softball state championship, lead by head coach Courtney McHenry. 

McHenry, who also coaches volleyball, joins Alyssa Orange to talk about the success the Tigers have had, the success of the 2026 team, and coaching her daughter. 

Transcript

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I was able to catch up with head coach Courtney McHenry about just the success that Taylor continues to see, how this is a program that has the expectations and the foundation to continue that success and that growth in the sport of softball. And it was a pleasure to spend some time with her. So I hope you enjoy our conversation with Taylor Softball head coach Courtney McHenry. It's been about a week or so uh since you guys won the state championship again. Um, does this one feel any different than all the other ones that you've been a part of? And I know you took over the team in 2021, but have been a part of it um for a long time. So, you know, where does this one kind of, you know, fall with all the other ones? Um, you know, every year is such a different year. Um, you know, it's, you know, we've talked about a little intro, it's interesting having nine in a row. You know, it's hard every year. Nobody wants to be the year to end that. You know, it's gonna happen at some point. Um but you wanna, this is what I tell people. Every year you're like, oh, I really want to win this for a specific reason, you know, for maybe the group of girls, the different, you know, just different reasons. Um, you know, for the seniors, for the pitcher that stepped in in this position, for the freshmen that are new to the team, you know, things like that. Um also being our last year in 1AE, we really kind of wanted to be able to finish that before we kind of moved to a different classification. So um it's special, you know, at the beginning of the year we were hearing comments that yeah, this is probably the year it's not gonna happen just because, you know, just like any younger team, you kind of hit some hiccups early in the season where maybe we weren't playing our best ball yet. And um, so people were maybe not girls or team, but outside of the team, you know, you kind of hear some things like not real sure if it's gonna happen this year. So um, for them to be able to maybe peek at the right time, I felt like um in the past maybe we peaked a little too early. Um this time we were like, are we ever gonna get to that point? And I think we finally peaked at the right time, and so it was to be able to finish. Yeah, it's crazy to hear that there are doubters. There are, yeah. There always is, yeah. Now there's some that are um super confident that think we're just gonna show up, ask about dates and things like that before we get through the season, and then there's some that um just maybe see, like I said, some of the heat ups you face like every other team, you know, early on, just try to figure some things out. Yeah, you know, everyone jokes there must be something in the water down there in Taylor, but but clearly it doesn't happen by happenstance. Well, what do you think it is about just the program overall that has kind of found a way to find that success? Um, I think it's expectations are a lot of it. Um, you know, they're teenage girls like every other group. Every group works hard, these group girls work hard. I think all the other teams across the state work hard. Um, but they do kind of show up with a different mindset that they just know they're expected to figure out how to make this happen. Um, it's a funny conversation we heard, and this has probably been three years ago, but um a parent from another school told one of our administrators he overheard a conversation with um one of our senior parents and her daughter, and they were going into regionals, and you know, by this time your cleats are falling apart, you've had them for how many years? And he overheard the mom say, Well, you got to make it through six more games. And he said he kind of started tallying up. He's like, that means like six more games would be finals. Like they expect, you know, you you need to be there, you got to figure out a way to do that, and that's just kind of a different mindset, I think, helps. Um, we get halfway through the season, and you know, they're tired, and we kind of see a lull, a lack of enthusiasm, and you know, we kind of joke about it for some reason. You get to postseason and they flip the switch back on and just have a little bit more enthusiasm, excitement to kind of finish strong. So I do think them having the expectation, because like so many have always said, that's all they know. Yes. So I think that mindset kind of helps. Yeah, yeah. Focusing again on this year's team. You talk about some people who have moved positions, and I know that Aniston Nolte was one of those who had played short for you, moved into the pitching circle. Um, talk about her leadership, but just also um what that says about everyone's team mentality um and the sacrifice they make for the team every year. Yeah, and she's definitely, you know, a spotlight for that example for sure. You know, um, she's played shortstop with and she's phenomenal shortstop. You know, she's been in the lineup offensively for us and done so well. And, you know, we tell her if she would have been at most other schools, she would have been in that circle starting freshman year. And you've never heard anything like, well, I want my turn to pitch. You know, she knew um what we needed her to do every year that she's been part of this program. And so she's had some pitching time last year. She didn't get quite as much pitching time as what we wanted because she had some shoulder problems. Um, and so for her to come in um as a senior but also young in that position, she just exceeded our expectations as far as leadership being able to step up mentally tough. Like I said, especially some of those hiccups early in the season when it can be frustrating as a pitcher sometimes, maybe when um we have some hiccups behind and things like that. And um, she uh stayed tough, she just stepped up a bit. A hard role, a hard role for her. So um definitely a letter that she is a little bit quieter personality sometimes. Um definitely with her play and her focus and her work. She's been working a long time for that position right there, and I thought, you know, super proud of her stepping up and and fulfilling that position there. Yeah, I've had the pleasure of calling your state championship games the last two years. Um, but I tell you what, that home run by Jesse Slayers at the end, at the end of that game, the freshman. I mean, how cool of a moment was that for you to watch? Yeah, um, I'll tell you, she's a fun one too. You know, um, it is a hard role being a freshman, and um they start to feel the pressure of what it means to have Taylor on your jersey um when they step into that. And she's had a great season, but you know, like any player, it just depends on the day. And I'll tell you, she just she works so hard and she's brought a lot of enthusiasm, young enthusiasm to the group. And so to like to see the celebrations and the hands going up and her just coming around basically in tears, coming around second, you can kind of see that too. Um, it's fun to see that excitement and to see her. Who knows would be that big moment. And like I said, yeah, she's a hard worker. This is you know what she's worked for like all of them, she's worked hard for that moment. So it was exciting. Yeah, yeah. Amazing poise by a freshman, I gotta tell you, it was it was cool. And and what's it like, you know, having Callie there and and being a coach's daughter? You know, I was a coach's daughter too, and so sometimes those you have good days and bad days, right? Yes. Or if you ask her that question, um, there's a lot of perks to have being in those moments with your kids, you know, it is special because all those girls become yours, but it is also hard, you know, that than being a coach coach daughter. Um, you know, her you know, it's a part of life is you kind of gotta do something a little extra to get a position if you're the coach's kid. Um so people don't question it, you know. So um it's fun. I think um I was worried about that, but seeing her step in this year and last year with a little bit more joy um than I thought she was going to, because I thought the pressure would be a little bit harder on her, but she seems to enjoy the moments. Like I said, you're gonna have your good games and your bad games that I've been real proud of her and seeing how she's grown through that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I also think it's kind of fun um from your perspective. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the fact that the baseball team's kind of on that same track that you guys are. And that just, you know, again, the the bat and ball sports and tailor have success. And just kind of how fun is it for the baseball team and the softball team to kind of have that same level of success and trajectory every season. It it is a lot of fun, you know, depending on the schedule. You know, the last for the last five years, um, it's worked out where we get to watch a lot of e pla each other play, especially in finals. Um, we may not get to watch the full game, but like I know a few years we would get to go watch even 30 minutes of the baseball game before we go warm up. And as the coach, I'm always like, we need to focus on our game, you know, get ready on that finals day. But it we're like, it's risky, but there's such connection between the baseball and softball players. They've grown up together, they root for each other. So um it's fun when they're both successful. I think that encourages both groups. I think it goes both ways when you see them um having success and some excitement, it kind of brings that enthusiasm over to our game too. Yeah. Well, I'm not gonna say that softball was more important, but we did break into the baseball broadcast to start your game on time on television. Yeah, I know weather kind of setting up on that. Um, but yeah, um, I think both programs support each other so much. It's fun to see um all the athletes, coaches, parents cheering for each other. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Softball's been such a long um part of your life for so long. Um as a player and and now as a coach. Um, what's it meant to you and how have you seen the game grow so much since you were playing? Um definitely, because I'll tell you, um, most of my younger years were still slow pitch. I guess that uh ages me a little bit that that um, you know, my senior year of high school was fast pitch. Um one year of college I played fast pitch. So that definitely has shown um a lot of it growing a little bit. Um I think you see a lot more hitting, you know, especially you used to see a a really strong pitcher was kind of dime a dozen when it was first starting. I do see um pitching across the board, all classifications I think are getting better. Um I even noticed this year in state, you know, when we should um go to state tournament, play four seed, um March Tree, you know, they had a great pitcher that was throwing hard. Um, you know, hit her spots in Walkmanny. I just think the pitching has come a long way. And in return, now that people are seeing more good pitching, you're seeing more hitting. So I mean, is that the fixed thing you've seen? Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And it didn't to your point. Yeah, to your point, I played um slow pitch up until about middle school. And high school had shifted, but travel ball hadn't shifted. And so yeah, we kind of were in that whole uh flux of it kind of just depended on what league you were playing in, whether or not you were on the fast pitch or slow pitch track. So it's kind of been fun to see both sides of that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I have I'll I could go on a soapbox honestly and talk about how I think slow pitch teaches defense. But I agree, I agree. Um because the especially send those really strong pitchers, sometimes your defense doesn't have to do a whole lot. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. For sure. Or if you're younger and there's a bunch of walks, but the game has been fun to watch grow. Uh, and I'm sure as a coach, it's been fun to watch grow. Why why did you want to get into coaching to begin with? Um, I just I love the sports, and it's I you know, it's kind of a funny story because that's start I went to college to coach and got engaged, realized hey, being mom and coach sometimes is a little different. I so I ended up not starting into coaching. I was a mom for several years. Um, I didn't start coaching until my girls were a little bit older. Um but I grew up, I mean, that's all I did. I mean, I I played something year-round and mainly it was softball, you know. But I played volleyball, basketball, and softball with it, but softball was the largest chunk of my time. So um I think being around that love of the game, but also the time I had at Taylor before I started coaching, just being around these girls, I do it for them. You know, it it's just fun to be with and you spend so much time with them. Um, it has its ups and downs, it's hard, you know, parts of coaching, just like you know, so many people know you hear all the good and the bad. But I also see this as my ministry at the same time. Um, we're very deliberate about Team Devos praying together. It's fun to get to have um when girls come and want to pray with you and they share with each other. Um, you know, through volleyball and basketball doing that, we've had players, you know, make decisions to accept Christ and celebrating that with each other. So I really I see that as my main priority there in softball. And like I said, do volleyball also. That's just the side, the ways to get to spend some time with these girls at the same time. So Right Right. When that and so it feels like when the job opened in 2021 and that opportunity was there, was it a no-brainer for you? Um, it was it was no-brainer because I loved the sport and the girls. Like I said, I loved I'd already started coaching volleyball at that time and I knew hey, I love being around these players. Um, it took me a little bit of time to um commit to it, just for the fact, like my family members said, why would you step into that? Because they have one, you know. Uh at that point they had already started winning some state championships. So we're like, why do you want to step into the pressure of that? And that's why I said, but okay, it it's a chance to spend time with these girls. Um and you know, the rest will fall into place. So yeah. Yeah, yeah. You mentioned volleyball too. So many also crossovers and called that game into hot springs also. So, to kind of go back and forth. How do you balance that? Um, well, basketball season helps, I guess. Um, you know, because I'm just mom during basketball season. I get to sit in the stands and watch, but um, it's fun. So that does kind of get the break in between. Um, the sports are so different. I think it's a good change of pace. Um and a lot of it is the same group of girls, you know, a few pick or choose different sports. But um right now I've got a few about a month, then we'll start volleyball. But that's all I need. I kind of get bored easily. So we'll have some downtime and then we'll get that rolling. But uh yeah, it is fun to see them compete in all the sports. Yeah. Absolutely. How how over the years, you know, um, to avoid getting complacent or to, you know, uninspired, or what is it that that you really look as yourself uh as you grow as a coach every year and entering into next year? Is there anything you do to say, hey, here's a brand new year? What can we do to continue to get better? Um, I think that is important to see every year as a new year. You know, it's hard to not dwell on the past. Um, you know, every group's different. Like we said, you know, is for instance, you may have had this role last year, this is where you're going this year. Um, we do have to have be very intentional about making it fun for them. Um different groups and different personalities react to that pressure a little differently. Um, so we find some ways to be silly and to enjoy and remind them, hey, this is a game, you know, or um take a breath and enjoy and some things like that. And that's why some underclassmen also help. They don't realize whether they're in the varsity lineup or not, when they can bring enthusiasm to the role and kind of lighten it up and make it enjoyable for these girls. They don't understand how that role helps the same as the ones that are in that lineup at the same time. Yeah. Well, I know I remember when we talked um at the state championship game, you know, it's always like all things come to an end eventually in life. That's life, right? Um, but it it it always just feels like you know, you guys got it figured it out down there on how to went in state championships. Um, but how is how has that motivated you guys every year? And and where do you see this program to continuing to build on what you've already built? Um, like I talked about earlier, I guess kind of the expectations. Um and when they come in, you know, in practices, we try to focus on the things we struggle with. I'm not a coach who's gonna have like everybody has cookie cutter swing. You see, I mean, at that point, you what do we need to work on in that swing to help them be successful? Everything may not be fundamentally perfect in the field or at the plate, but we gotta figure out what works best for us. Um, as you said, you hear certain people are saying, well, they're not doing this or they're not doing that. And we're like, we're doing the best we can work with to help them be successful. And yeah, you know, try not to nitpick but find the things that we can tweak and work hard from there. You keep doing it until you get it reps that you can to try to get uh success from them. You know, another one who's changed like Carson Langley, who played right field for us. Um, this was her first year in the lineup. She's been in the dugout in ninth and tenth grade and worked so hard every year. It's an example of hey, you know, positions aren't given to you when you stepped onto the roster. Um, and she's had the best attitude to grow every season, and now this year she has the time to shine. And the fun part, she's never been an outfielder before. She's always been an infielder. We knew we needed some speed or somebody in the outfield, and she embraced that and said, if I want the lineup, I'm gonna figure out how to make this work. So I do think just trying to figure out the best fit for everybody or the best fit for the team and being willing to make a change when you're not comfortable. And I think she rocked that position at the same time. So it's fun to see them say, Hey, well, this I've never done this before. But if I if I can help the team this way, this is where I'll work. And just her put girls like her, and uh, so many of them putting time outside of practice to say I struggled in practice on this today. And so to have parents that are willing to come spend some extra time with them to to figure that out. It just somehow makes it work for everybody there. Yeah, it does, and it speaks volumes to where the program is and and how people view the program and wanting to be a part of it. Absolutely. Got a question real fast for you. Was there room in the trophy case for number nine? Well, you know, I've actually thought about there's not. We're gonna have to figure out a solution for that for us in baseball. Um, our school built a new trophy case a few years ago for these, and I thought about that. I've not been back to the gym. I'm like, there is not an open spot for that. So we're gonna start addressing that real quickly. That's in baseball. We'll be eager to get that in there. Yeah. Yeah. It sounds like a new trophy case is the answer. Yeah. Well, thank Coach, thank you so much. It's it's been a pleasure catching up with you and and congratulations on all the success. And I can't wait to see Taylor continue that success in the coming years. Well, I appreciate it. Thanks so much for reaching out. A big thank you to Coach McHenry for joining me and hope that you enjoyed that conversation as well. Now I know it's the summer and the sports, of course, are not necessarily happening in the uh high school world, but there's a lot of seven-on-sevens and camps and all kinds of things happening during the summer to keep track of. So, as I encourage you always go and follow us on our social media platforms that is Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook, as well as sign up for the newsletter at varsityvibearkansas.com. While you're at it, subscribe to the YouTube page and subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Once again, I'm your host, Alyssa Orange. This is VarsityVibe brought to you by First Security Bank, and we'll see you next time. Club Car Watch is the best place to get your ride game day ready. 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